While revenue is up 12.4% from 1991, profits have remained virtually flat, partly because the company has made provisions of about $ 20 million for its investment in Carolco.

While Canal Plus subscribers, now numbering 3.5 million French households, continue to provide the bulk of web revenue ($ 1.2 billion), significant increases have been posted in the amount of coin brought into Canal Plus coffers by advertising and related companies.

According to web sources, the wider audience for uncoded programs and increased rates have driven advertising and sponsorship revenue up 32.6% to $ 77 million.

Revenue from other goods and services, which includes film production outfit Studio Canal Plus, satellite dish manufacturer Antennes Tonna and TV production arm Ellipse Programme, increased 24% to $ 196 million.

Euro subscriptions

Outside France, subscriptions in Belgium, Spain and Germany continue to soar. The Spanish market doubled to 559,024 subscribers, Germany was over 92% up at 554,043 subs and Belgium increased 61% to 124,173 subs.